Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers. Low: 67-69. Wind: S 5 mph.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 10% chance of showers in the morning. High: 88-92. Wind: W/NW 5-15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Low: 68-70. Wind: N 5 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High: low 90s.

Monday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High: upper 90s.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High: upper 90s.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: near 90.

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: low-mid 90s.

Friday: Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers/storms. High: low-mid 90s.

The clouds in eastern Iowa have been clearing as the showers have come to an end in most locations. There are storms to our northwest as I type this. The storms are forecast to weaken by the time they would get to eastern Iowa. The chance of them reaching us is low but it is there. Either way the clouds are expected to hang around for part of the night.

The rain that fell in the last 24 hours was not enough to lift any burn bans or provide much relief from our drought situation. The reason I say that is because there were many locations that did get any rain across eastern Iowa. A few spots got lucky with reports of 1 or 2 inches of rain but, those reports were very isolated. If you want to take a look at the rain reports as of 7 AM this morning here is the link. Click here.

Here are the burn bans that are either currently in effect or will be in the next few days.

Looking ahead to next week, it looks like it is going to be another scorcher for a few days. Highs will be mainly in the 90s with Monday and Tuesday in the upper 90s and the heat index 100-110 potentially. Here is the potential heat index for Tuesday.

How long with this heat wave last is the next question. Well, the upper level ridge of high pressure will remain in place all week. The question comes when there is a surface front forecast to be located east/west across Iowa. This could be a focal point for a shower/storm to develop. You also have to keep in mind the hot dome of high pressure across the area as well. At this point I will put in the shower/storm chance for Wednesday through Friday. We will have to see the exact position of the front by the time we get there. The position of the front may also be the factor as to how hot it will get. The front may have 10 degree difference on either side of the front. With the ridge in place I lean more toward the low-mid 90s for the second half of the week. Here is the position of the front across Iowa Thursday morning.

Posted under Fire, Forecast Discussion